Progressives want to build on new foundation.Byline: Edward Russo The Register-Guard Mayor Kitty Piercy "Kitty" Piercy is the current mayor of Eugene, Oregon, sworn in January of 2005. The press dubbed Piercy's election part of a "shift to the left" for the Eugene City Council. is generating momentum, but more drive is needed to move Eugene toward environmental and social safeguards, activists said Monday. They conveyed that message at the fifth annual Citizens State of the City event that took place at the Eugene Public Library. The five speakers addressed an audience of about 100. The grass-roots event is timed to coincide with the beginning-of-the-year speeches given by many elected local officials in the metro area This article is about the music production team. For the article about population centers, see metropolitan area. Metro Area are a Brooklyn-based dance music production team composed of Morgan Geist and Darshan Jesrani. . The downtown event's organizers offered eight proposals, including a civic sustainability commission that would recommend environmentally friendly Environmentally friendly, also referred to as nature friendly, is a term used to refer to goods and services considered to inflict minimal harm on the environment.[1] policies to city and Lane County officials and would seek to end the use of toxic chemicals on city and school properties. One of five speakers, Lisa Arkin, praised Piercy for giving residents a voice at City Hall. "The mayor is renewing the legitimacy of public process," said Arkin, executive director of the Oregon Toxics Alliance and a Lane County Planning Commission Noun 1. planning commission - a commission delegated to propose plans for future activities and developments commission, committee - a special group delegated to consider some matter; "a committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours" - Milton Berle member. City Councilors Betty Taylor, David Kelly  This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling.You can assist by [ editing it] now. and Bonny Bettman have "laid the groundwork" for progressive ideas at City Hall, Arkin said, but residents must support their efforts. "Only public engagement, activism and supporting the gutsy courage of our elected officials will tip current events toward extraordinary thinking and irreversible progressive change," Arkin said. Others spoke of converting the oil-and-resource-consuming economy to one that is more environmentally friendly and sustainable. They said prime farmland Prime farmland, as a designation assigned by U.S. Department of Agriculture is land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops and is also available for these uses. around Eugene should be saved from development. "Let's allow building only on less-fertile land," said Kate Perle, an organic farmer from the Santa Clara Santa Clara, city, Cuba Santa Clara (sän`tä klä`rä), city (1994 est. pop. 217,000), capital of Villa Clara prov., central Cuba. area. Piercy, in her just-completed first year as mayor, has led Eugene to the "tipping point The point in time in which a technology, procedure, service or philosophy has reached critical mass and becomes mainstream. See network effect. See also tip and ring. " of making decisions based on environmental stewardship The integration and application of environmental values into the military mission in order to sustain readiness, improve quality of life, strengthen civil relations, and preserve valuable natural resources. and social safeguards, Arkin said. Key issues before city officials will, in coming months, show whether the city is moving to the progressive side or not, Arkin said. Downtown: City center property owners Tom Connor and Don Woolley have asked that as part of a major West Broadway redevelopment, the city condemn some downtown property and sell it to them at cost. "Will citizens support the developers' suggestion?" Arkin asked. Hospital: Leaders should not give up looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a hospital site in or near downtown. "Why not take an objective look at Riverfront Research Park?" she said. Triad Hospitals Inc., owner of McKenzie-Willamette hospital, has picked a site in north Eugene. Growth: Eugene and its surrounding communities don't have to expand as much as leaders who are creating the 2050 plan assume. "Are we limited to the assumptions of the 2050 plan, or will our leadership think out of the box regarding our future growth?" she said. The 2050 plan is a regional study being developed by various jurisdictions. West Eugene Parkway The West Eugene Parkway was a proposed re-alignment of Oregon Route 126 through the western parts of Eugene, Oregon and its suburbs. Highway 126 through western Eugene currently runs along several surface streets (including West 11th Avenue); this route is well-known in the Eugene : Activists want a low-impact alter- native to the costly parkway plan. "Will citizens support sensible traffic solutions for West Eugene that call for better public transit, synchronized traffic lights and improvement of existing streets and corridors?" Arkin asked. Development: Referring to a proposed Lowe's Home Improvement Center at the far west end of West 11th Avenue, Arkin asked: "Will the city and citizens work together to stave off yet another big box store along West 11th Avenue?" Sustainable economy: Borrowing one of Piercy's favorite phrases, Arkin asked: "How quickly can we build an economy founded on the triple bottom line of economic, social and environmental well-being? We need to shift away from the status quo [Latin, The existing state of things at any given date.] Status quo ante bellum means the state of things before the war. The status quo to be preserved by a preliminary injunction is the last actual, peaceable, uncontested status which preceded the pending controversy. and toward superior solutions." CITIZENS STATE OF THE CITY Some other recommendations from the fifth annual address: Public voice: Increase budget and role of city neighborhood programs so residents can have greater say in public issues Food: Support development of Lane County Food Policy Council Farmland: Work with county to inventory and protect farmland Growth: Put city growth management policies in land use code Downtown: Develop standards on energy conversation, public access and design aesthetics for downtown buildings West Eugene Parkway: Drop proposed throughway from local and regional transportation planning guides |
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